"This is the strength of the Islamic tradition. This is true justice," said Mouhammad Nouri.

"This is the happiest day in my life. Apart from the day my late son was born," a father of another boy victim whispered as he watched, mesmerised, Mohammad Bijeh's bulky figure appear on an improvised stage in the square.

The angry cheers filled the air as the court officials carried out the punishment of 100 lashes.

Bijeh was silent and still, but at one point his body shook visibly from the shock of the pain and he began falling down.

His shirt soaking in blood, he was then brought down from the podium.

As he walked up to the crane, the growing roar of the crowd mixed with the chant of the final prayer that mullahs read into the loudspeakers.

Final blow

At that moment, the 17-year-old brother of one of Mohammad Bijeh's victims ran up to him and tried to stab him. But the boy was quickly pushed away by the soldiers.

Then a woman in a black chador, the mother of another victim, walked up to the crane and put the rope around Mohammad Bijeh's neck.

As his body soared into the air above the square, the crowd applauded and cheered.

Some relatives joined in the chanting and applause.

Others stood quietly, their heads raised high, the tearful eyes focused on the dark figure that swayed in the blue sky.

"Maybe it was not a good thing that there were so many children there? It's not good for them to see this," one of the spectators said as the crowd began to thin out and dissolve into Pakdasht's dusty streets.